Mumbai: A day after being questioned for eight hours in a sexual assault case registered by an actor, film director Anurag Kashyap issued a fresh statement saying that he has provided documentary proof of the fact that throughout August 2013, the month of the alleged incident, he was in Sri Lanka for the shooting of one of his films.

“The material provided by Kashyap, in support of his statement, demonstrates that the complaint of (Payal) Ghosh is an outright lie. Kashyap has categorically denied that any such alleged incident ever took place and has also denied all allegations levelled against him,” read the statement released through advocate Priyanka Khimani.

Actor Payal Ghosh had lodged a complaint against Kashyap on September 22. In the FIR registered with Versova police, Ghosh alleged that in August 2013, Kashyap called her to his house and sexually harassed her. Kashyap’s statement said the “sudden, belated allegations of an alleged incident of August, 2013 have been widely publicised by the complainant for the purpose of vilifying him.”

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Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap’s lawyer, Priyanka Khimani, released a statement yesterday after he was questioned at the Versova Police Station on October 1, in connection with the sexual harassment case filed by actress Payal Ghosh. The statement reads, “In an FIR registered with the Versova Police Station, one Ms Payal Ghosh has alleged that in August 2013, my client, Mr Anurag Kashyap, called her to his house and sexually harassed her. My client presented himself for questioning before the investigating authority on 1st October 2020. Mr Kashyap has denied all wrongdoing in the matter and has provided his statement to the police. The material provided by Mr Kashyap, in support of his statement, demonstrates that the complaint of Ms Ghosh is an outright lie. Mr Kashyap has provided documentary proof of the fact that throughout August 2013, he was away in Sri Lanka in connection with the shooting of one of his films. Mr Kashyap has categorically denied that any such alleged incident ever took place and has also denied all allegations levelled against him.”

The statement by Anurag’s lawyer further reads, “These sudden, belated allegations of an alleged incident of August, 2013 have been widely publicised by the Complainant for the purpose of vilifying Mr Kashyap, irrespective of the outcome of the judicial process. Mr Kashyap is confident that the falsity of the complaint has been exposed, not only by the evidence presented by Mr Kashyap, but also the ever-shifting version of events put forth by Ms Ghosh in the media. Mr Kashyap is apprehensive that now that the falsity of her allegations in the FIR have been established, she will alter her version of events in the investigative process as well. Mr Kashyap is distressed with the false and reckless allegations made against him that have caused pain to him, his family and his fans. Mr Kashyap intends to vigorously pursue the legal remedies available to him.”

“Mr Kashyap vehemently denies any such incident, as has been alleged, and has sought for severe action against Ms Ghosh for misusing the criminal justice system and for hijacking the Me Too Movement for her ulterior motives. Mr Kashyap is confident that justice will prevail,” it concludes.